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Abstract:

A portable testing unit for biometric identity confirmation includes a
housing with an orifice to receive a breath sample from the test subject,
a spirometric sensor, and a pulse sensor adjacent to the orifice. A
processor analyzes spirometric data from the spirometric sensor and
simultaneous pulse wave data from the pulse sensor during the breath
sample, together with stored subject characterization data for a known
subject to confirm whether the identity of the test subject matches the
known subject. A communications link enables the processor to communicate
to the external station whether the identity of the test subject matches
the known subject. For example, this portable testing unit can be used to
control access to a secure facility or computer, authenticate the
identity of a party in a financial transaction, or confirm the identity
of the subject of an alcohol monitoring test.

Claims:

1. An apparatus for biometric confirmation of the identity of a test
subject having a pulse and a respiratory cycle, said apparatus
comprising: a spirometric sensor generating spirometric data from a
breath sample provided by a test subject; a pulse sensor simultaneously
generating pulse wave data for the test subject during the breath sample;
stored subject characterization data based on spirometric data and pulse
wave data for a known subject; and a processor analyzing the spirometric
data from the spirometric sensor, the pulse wave data from the pulse
sensor, and the subject characterization data for the known subject to
confirm whether the identity of the test subject matches the known
subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing with an orifice
receiving the breath sample, and wherein the pulse sensor is adjacent to
the orifice and in contact with the test subject during the breath
sample.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pulse sensor comprises: an
infrared emitter adjacent to the orifice transmitting infrared light into
the lip of the test subject; and an infrared detector adjacent to the
orifice receiving and measuring the infrared light traveling through the
lip of the test subject from the infrared emitter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a ball lens protruding
into the lip of the test subject adjacent to the orifice for transmitting
infrared light from the infrared emitter into the lip of the test
subject.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a ball lens protruding
into the lip of the test subject adjacent to the orifice for receiving
infrared light traveling from the infrared emitter and through the lip of
the test subject for the infrared detector.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising galvanic probes adjacent
to the orifice and in communication with processor to ensure that the
lips of the test subject remain in contact with the orifice throughout
the breath sample.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a transceiver controlled
by the processor communicating to the external station whether the
identity of the test subject matches the known subject.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor includes an initial
enrollment mode in which spirometric data and pulse wave data for a known
subject are analyzed to generate the subject characterization data.

9. A portable testing unit for biometric identity confirmation of a test
subject having a pulse and a respiratory cycle for use with an external
station having a communications link with the testing unit, said portable
testing unit comprising: a housing with an orifice receiving a breath
sample from a test subject; a spirometric sensor generating spirometric
data from the breath sample; a pulse sensor adjacent to the orifice and
in contact with the test subject during the breath sample, said pulse
sensor simultaneously generating pulse wave data for the test subject
during the breath sample; stored subject characterization data based on
spirometric data and pulse wave data for a known subject; a processor
analyzing the spirometric data from the spirometric sensor, the pulse
wave data from the pulse sensor, and the subject characterization data
for the known subject to confirm whether the identity of the test subject
matches the known subject; and a transceiver controlled by the processor
communicating to the external station whether the identity of the test
subject matches the known subject.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pulse sensor comprises: an
infrared emitter adjacent to the orifice transmitting infrared light into
the lip of the test subject; and an infrared detector adjacent to the
orifice receiving and measuring the infrared light traveling through the
lip of the test subject from the infrared emitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a ball lens protruding
into the lip of the test subject adjacent to the orifice for transmitting
infrared light from the infrared emitter into the lip of the test
subject.

12. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a ball lens protruding
into the lip of the test subject adjacent to the orifice for receiving
infrared light traveling from the infrared emitter and through the lip of
the test subject for the infrared detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising galvanic probes adjacent
to the orifice and in communication with processor to ensure that the
lips of the test subject remain in contact with the orifice throughout
the breath sample.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor includes an initial
enrollment mode in which spirometric data and pulse wave data for a known
subject are analyzed to generate the subject characterization data.

Description:

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is based on and claims priority to the
Applicant's U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/570,109, entitled
"System For Biometric Identity Confirmation," filed on Dec. 13, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of biometric
identity confirmation. More specifically, the present invention discloses
a system for biometric identity confirmation based on both spirometric
data and pulse wave data.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] Biometric identification is the process of recognizing or rejecting
an unknown person as a particular member of a previously characterized
set, based on biological measurements. The ideal biometric
characterization is specific to the individual, difficult to counterfeit,
robust to metabolic fluctuations, insensitive to external conditions,
easily measured, and quickly processed.

[0006] Fingerprint, retinal, iris, and facial scans are well-known
biometric identification techniques relying on image processing. Images
are two-dimensional, requiring sophisticated and computationally
intensive algorithms, the analysis of which is often complicated by
random orientation and variable scaling. Voice recognition is an example
of biometric identification amenable to time series analysis, an
inherently simpler one-dimensional process.

[0007] The simplest biometric identifiers can be expressed as a single
parameter, such as height or weight. Single parameter identifiers have
been the only quantitative means of identification throughout most of
history. The price of simplicity is the loss of specificity, and in the
case of weight, the lack of constancy over time. Nevertheless,
single-parameter biometrics remain effective identifying factors, as is
obvious from their continued use.

[0008] Identity tracking/confirmation is the process of following the
whereabouts of a known subject moving unpredictably among similar
individuals, perhaps with deceptive intent. Tracking/confirmation is
somewhat simpler than identification, because it merely requires
distinguishing the subject from all others rather than distinguishing
every individual from every other, and because continuous rather than
episodic data are available. Biometric identity tracking/confirmation is
the continuous verification that a body-mounted sensor has remained on
the subject, and has not been surreptitiously transferred to an impostor.
For the purposes of this application, the term "biometric identification"
should be broadly construed to encompass both biometric identification in
its narrower sense, as described above, and identity
tracking/confirmation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This invention provides a portable testing unit for biometric
identity confirmation for use with an external security station. The
portable testing unit includes a housing with an orifice to receive a
breath sample from the test subject, a spirometric sensor, and a pulse
sensor adjacent to the orifice. A processor analyzes spirometric data
from the spirometric sensor and simultaneous pulse wave data from the
pulse sensor during the breath sample, together with stored subject
characterization data for a known subject to confirm whether the identity
of the test subject matches the known subject. A communications link
enables the processor to communicate to the external station whether the
identity of the test subject matches the known subject. For example, this
can be used to control access to a secure facility or computer,
authenticate the identity of a party in a financial transaction, or
confirm the identity of the subject of an alcohol monitoring test.

[0010] These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present
invention will be more readily understood in view of the following
detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the portable testing unit 10.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the portable testing unit 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Turning to FIG. 1, a simplified cross-sectional view is illustrated
showing one possible embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
corresponding system block diagram of the portable testing unit 10. This
portable testing unit 10 is designed to confirm an individual's identity
through the simultaneous measurement of their exhaled breath
characteristics and their pulse waveform characteristics. When paired via
a communications link to an external security station 30, the portable
testing unit 10 can be employed to provide secure access of any type
including facilities, cars, electronic devices and secure financial
transactions.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the portable
testing unit 10 with a disc-shaped housing having a diameter of about
1.75 inch. Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the testing unit 10 contains a
pressure/flow transducer 20 within an orifice 15 extending through the
testing unit 10 for generating spirometric data during breath samples
provided by the subject. A pulse sensor 24 is located adjacent to the
orifice 15 to generate pulse waveform data simultaneous with the
spirometric data during each test. Preferably, the pulse sensor 24 has a
910 nm IR emitter and detector with two ball lenses. In this embodiment,
the infrared emitter transmits infrared light through a ball lens that
protrudes slightly into the lip of the test subject. The infrared
detector receives and measures infrared light traveling from the infrared
emitter through a portion of the lip to a second ball lens protruding
slightly into the lip. These ball lenses are adjacent to the orifice 15,
and are at a predetermined distance from one another. Alternatively, a
piezoelectric sensor (e.g., a piezoelectric film) could be used as the
pulse sensor 24. Two galvanic probes 22 ensure that subject's lips remain
in contact with the orifice 15 throughout the breath sample.

[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the test unit 10 also includes a
microprocessor 12 with on-board memory 14, and an analog-to-digital
converter 18 as an interface between the sensors 20, 24 and the processor
12. An R/F transceiver 16 enables the testing unit 10 to communicate with
an external security station 30. Finally, the testing unit 10 includes a
snap dome switch 26 to initiate a test, and a battery 28 to power the
remaining components.

[0018] The testing unit 10 is initially assigned by a supervising party to
an individual wishing to access secure areas/systems/devices that the
testing unit 10 is paired with. At this time the individual will be
required to complete an enrollment process under supervision of the
assigning party. During the enrollment process, the subject is required
to provide a number of breath samples that enable the processor 12 to
generate subject characterization data derived from the spirometric data
and pulse wave data to identify the known subject. This subject
characterization data is stored in the memory 14 for later use. In the
subsequent operational mode, the testing unit 10 is used to confirm the
person's identity through analysis of spirometric data and pulse wave
data from subsequent breath samples.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the testing
unit 10 simultaneously performs breath print spirometry and lip pulse
photoplethysmography. The Applicants' previous U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/169,603, entitled "Breath Alcohol Sampling System With
Spirometric Client Identity Confirmation," filed on Jun. 27, 2011, and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/589,084, entitled "System
For Biometric Identity Confirmation," filed on Jan. 20, 2012, (which are
hereby incorporated by reference) describe a number of techniques for
breath print spirometry for client identity confirmation during breath
alcohol micro-sampling that can also be employed in the present
invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
spirometry sensor 20 uses a pressure-sensitive diaphragm to infer the
exhaled volumetric airflow rate, which can be characterized by the
duration of exhalation (T), the force vital capacity (V), and the
normalized shape of the flow versus time curve (S). However, it should
understood that other types of spirometric sensors could be substituted,
and that other spirometric data could be used for subject
characterization.

[0020] Providing repeatable spirometric data requires the subject to exert
labial pressure on the mouthpiece or orifice 15 of the testing unit 10 to
ensure a good seal. This affords the opportunity to perform simultaneous
lip pulse photoplethysmography of the pulse wave using, for example, an
infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) and detector built into the
housing of the testing unit 10 adjacent to the orifice 15 and in contact
with subject's lip. The Applicants' previous U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/079,219, entitled "Biometric Identification System Using Pulse
Waveform," filed on Apr. 4, 2011, (which is hereby incorporated by
reference) describes a number of approaches to using the pulse waveform
for subject identity confirmation, which can also be readily adopted in
the present invention. Subject pulse waveform characteristics such as
rate, excursion and shape can be measured before, during and just after
exhalation. Several aspects of the pulse waveform and its interaction
with the spirometric data may be exploited, such as: (1) The baseline
pulse waveform itself, before exhalation; (2) The degree of
exsanguination of the labial tissue as pressure is applied to achieve a
seal prior to exhalation; (3) The possible acceleration and lessening
excursion of the pulse as exhalation proceed; or (4) The return to normal
sanguinity, rate, and excursion after exhalation has ended. The resulting
combination of involuntary autonomic and physiological characteristics,
subconscious idiosyncrasies and deliberate practices are believed to be
quite specific to the subject, thereby providing a powerful identity
authentication technique.

[0021] The following is a description of the operational mode of the
present invention. When an individual wishes to access a secure
system/device/area, the subject simply presses the test button 26 and
places the inlet orifice 15 to their mouth with their upper lip on the
galvanic probes 22 and lower lip on the IR ball lens of the pulse sensor
24. The subject then exhales completely into the device. Simultaneously,
the IR emitter of the pulse sensor 24 transmits light at a wavelength of
about 910 nm into the person's lower lip through a ball lens protruding
slightly into the lip of the test subject. The IR detector or photodiode
of the pulse sensor 24 measures infrared light that has traveled through
the lip from the IR emitter and entered a second ball lens protruding
slightly into the test subject's lip at a distance from the first ball
lens. Simultaneously, the breath sample travels through the inlet orifice
15 to a flow restriction in the exit port generating a positive pressure
monitored by the spirometric sensor 20. The galvanic probes 22 act as a
switch to initiate the IR data acquisition and as a safety device to shut
off the IR emitter and fail the test in the event a person's lip is
removed during the testing period. During this period, the testing unit
10 simultaneously measures exhaled breath with the spirometric sensor 20
and pulse characteristics with the pulse sensor 24. This data is sent
from the spirometric transducer 20 and pulse sensor 24 to the ND
converter 18 and is stored in memory 14 for subsequent processing by the
microprocessor 12. These data are compared with the original subject
characterization data from the enrollment period to confirm the subject's
identity. In the event the identity is not confirmed, an encrypted
lockout code is transmitted along with the testing unit's unique
identifier code. In the event the individual's identity is confirmed the
testing unit 10 transmits a unique encrypted identifier and an enable
code to the security station 30 for a predetermined time frame. Access
devices that have been paired with this unique testing unit 10 will
provide or deny access based on the identity confirmation test results.

[0022] The present invention provides a number of key advantages over the
prior art. First, once a testing unit 10 is assigned to and enrolled by
an individual, only that individual's identity can be confirmed by the
testing. In the event the testing unit 10 is lost, it is useless to
anyone that may find it. This is certainly not the case with a
traditional office key, car key, house key, RFID key, swipe access card
or credit/debit card.

[0023] Second, due to the testing unit's ability to complete an identity
confirmation test in advance of entering the facility and transmit an
enable access code for a period of time, it can dramatically reduce
waiting time for employees entering secure facilities, in contrast to
conventional facial recognition, retina, fingerprint and voice
identification methods as well as retail credit/debit card transactions.
This new level of credit/debit card security is believed to have the
potential to save billions of dollars annually in credit card fraud.

[0024] The same testing unit 10 may be assigned to more than one
individual such as a number of members of a family. In this instance each
individual would be enrolled on the testing unit 10 and would
subsequently confirm the identity of each individual and record the
person accessing the facility or device at that time.

[0025] Finally, the present invention may be programmed to provide
different time periods of access for different levels of required
security. For example, the testing unit 10 could be programmed to provide
a fifteen-minute enable period for a home security system, five minutes
to enable a car start, one minute for a secure office, six hours for a
low level computer, and 500 milliseconds for a debit/credit/ATM card or
financial transaction. It is anticipated that this device could be used
by any type of secure facility, business, residence, automobile,
mechanical or electronic device, debit/credit/ATM card terminal providing
a convenient and enhanced level of access/transaction security.

[0026] The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the
present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying
drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes,
modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could
be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without
departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following
claims.